During our trim to Disney everyone seemed to see the good in the guests (due to great job training).  It is in the Disney DNA to make everyone feel as special as they are.  Everyone from the stroller rental people to the dining staff addressed Eden as “little princess” and some commented her hair was the same color as Ariel.  It was great and we all felt like this was a place we could live forever because we felt like we belonged.

Time and time again we have young people (but everyone really) that are longing to be loved and to have a place.  When we were still in the planning stages of this series I began to look at ways that I could search out the Beauty in some of the Beast situations that i have faces through the student ministry and the church in general.  I am astonished what you can find in people’s hearts when you intentionally search out the good rather than when you are quick to see the differences or negative.

Reflect:

What are some areas where you need to search out the Beauty?

How can you let others know that they are special? (a kind word, a note or e-mail, a special unexpected treat…)

this week let at least 2 unlikely people know that you care and they are special.

Regardless of that, I saw the importance of coming up with good questions so that you could weed out the losers from the winner.  I think the importance is true with youth ministry as well.  We need to be able to ask great questions and follow-up questions to get at the heart of who our kids are.

I have tried to come up with some of my thoughts about asking questions, but i would like to hear yours too.  I know that I am very bad at this and so it has taken some work and effort to get to the place where I am.  Here is my brain dump of question asking:

1. Start slow: Start off with something easy.  Ask for some information about a student that isn’t really taxing and so you can get an idea of where they are located in life.
2. Open a Door: Ask open ended questions where there is no “yes” or “no” answer.  This will make them think and give you something else to talk about.
3. Care by listening: Allow the conversation to build on what they have already talked about.  Don’t just ask your questions without thinking about what the students are saying.  Asking follow-up questions will show that you are listening and that you do care.  Having an adult really listen is something that many students lack in their lives and is meaningful.
4. Repeat: Check back in with them the following week about something that they shared with you (a sporting event, test, birthday…).  I have to write these things down or I forget.  But, it is always cool when people remember what is important to you from week to week.

What are some other ways you have found to ask great questions?

Chris Bishop | Adventures of a pastor sorting out this conspiracy of grace

One of the books in my backpack opened with this question. I thought that it was a strange one to ask for a book about teaching Bible Studies.

This past weekend we had our All Saint’s weekend. This is the time in the church where we lift up and praise the lives we lit candles, read and spoke names aloud of the people in our lives who have made an impact.

These people who we think of as saints are people that did something that has outlasted them. We have other people that are living saints in our lives.

So let’s change the question a little bit. What are you going to be remembered for by your friends, or people at school? Are you going to be the one who would always trip someone in the hall, or the one who would stop and help pick up a dropped book? Are you going to show others who the church is a place of love and acceptance or one of hate and filled with hypocrites?

We are built to last longer than just here on Earth. We have the promise of eternal life, and we can live on through the impact we make on Earth.

There is a story of a mother who would yell to her kids every morning as they went to the bus. She would say, “Go MAD.”

But what she was really saying “Go Make A Difference.”

What are you doing to make a difference?

1. Each week I will try to post a follow-up to the weekend’s lesson on Wednesday.  Kind of like a mid week devotion.
2. Every couple of weeks we will have an article by a student.
3. We will make a form so that you can report God sightings that you have had through out the week.  This way we can post, share at youth group/FUEL the ways that God is at work in and through our lives.
4. I have been working for about a week now to try and figure out how to get a better way of managing our pictures.  I have a ton and need a better/safer way to post them so that we can have them available to you all.
5. FINALLY, if you see something that you would like to be posted please use this site to contact me or forward me a link so that I can get it into a post.  It could be an article, picture or video that you thought was cool.  Just let me know and i will get it up here.

Let me know what you thikn about these things and other ways you would like to see the site used.  later on.

This is a PDF file that you can view or download.  Look at the last page for the calendar of events for the month

newsletterMay2008

I am excited to be able to bring this news letter to you all so that we can partner in ministry with one another on a deeper level and provide your young person with ways to become more deeply connected with God and their faith.

You can download/view a PDF version of our November news letter by clicking right here November 2007 newsletter

But this could not be further from the truth. In fact Youth Workers come in all shapes, sizes, ages and personalities. We are looking for adults who are passionate about being real with young people. Many times we think that we have to have the right stuff, the right look and language to even be heard by young people. The students in our ministry are urning for real authentic relationships. One of the best youth workers I know is in her 70′s. She is compassionate and willing to be there for young people. She listens, guides and above all else loves the students in her ministry. Sure, she doesn’t do ministry the way that a 25 year old seminary grad appointed to urban Baltimore does. However, both reach youth, spread the gospel and are a critical part of the faith community.

There are only a few requirements that go into making a great youth worker:

1. You love God and desire a closer relationship with the Creator each and every day.
2. You are someone of integrity
3. You love kids and you want to spend time getting to know them.
4. You have the time to devote to building relationships and serving young people.

If these things describe you, then you are well on your way to being a great youth worker. These things may take the form of being a small group leader, cooking for events, driving, keeping students in prayer, mentoring, sponsoring a confirmation member, or any number of other ways to serve our ministry. Being a youth worker is not just filling a hole, it is making a lasting and meaningful connection to young people within the ministry. You offer something that no one else in the world can. You are unique ans special and we would love for you to share your story with us.

Youth ministry is not just about dinners, loud music and being silly. It is not just helping young people see God, but it is a way to see God through young people. Prayerfully consider where and how you can be a meaningful part of the faith formation of the students that have been entrusted to our care.

It is our hope to raise up and cultivate a group of students that are willing to pour back into the ministry. If you have a desire to have a relationship with God and a Christ like heart this is for you. Service beings with the smallest things and the details are what are important. You don’t have to be strong, funny, the coolest Dungeon and Dragons war lock in all of Gondore or even ridiculously good looking (good thing for me). Just let me know that you are interested and keep an ear to the ground for more info coming up very soon.

Be God’s,

Chris